Freedom of Information

How to Make a Freedom of Information (FOI) Request

If you would like to request information held by Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, you can do so by completing our FOI request form or by sending a written request via email or post. Please ensure your request clearly describes the information you are seeking.

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, all requests must be made in writing. We are unable to accept or respond to FOI requests made by telephone.

Before submitting a request, we encourage you to check our FOI Publication Scheme, where a wide range of information is routinely published and may already answer your query.

FOI Publication Scheme

Our Freedom of Information (FOI) Publication Scheme is a guide to the types of information that Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust routinely makes available to the public. It is designed to promote openness and transparency in line with the model publication scheme developed by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

The scheme is structured around seven broad classes of information, which include:

• Who we are and what we do – Organisational structure, roles, and responsibilities.
• What we spend and how we spend it – Financial information, budgets, and procurement.
• What our priorities are and how we are doing – Strategies, performance indicators, and reports.
• How we make decisions – Policies, procedures, and decision-making processes.
• Our policies and procedures – Operational rules, codes of conduct, and internal guidance.
• Lists and registers – Public registers and asset lists.
• The services we offer – Information about the services we provide to the community.

We encourage you to check the Publication Scheme before submitting an FOI request, as the information you need may already be available.

FOI Exemptions and Security Statement

Please note: While the Trust is committed to transparency, certain exemptions apply under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

The FOIA covers non-personal information only. If your request concerns personal data about individuals, this falls under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). In such cases, you should submit a Subject Access Request instead.

The Trust also does not routinely disclose the names of internal systems or software platforms used for operational purposes where doing so could pose a risk to the security of our infrastructure. This approach aligns with Section 31(1)(a) of the FOIA, which allows exemption where disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the prevention or detection of crime. System names that are considered non-sensitive or are already publicly known (for example, national platforms such as SystmOne or EMIS) may be disclosed. However, details of lesser-known or security-critical systems may be withheld to protect the Trust’s digital environment.

Additionally, information that is commercially sensitive may be exempt under Section 43 of the FOIA. This includes details where disclosure could prejudice the commercial interests of the Trust or its partners, such as procurement strategies, contract values, or supplier pricing structures. Each request will be assessed on a case-by-case basis to ensure compliance with the Act while safeguarding legitimate commercial interests.